COMMENTARY
"I AM HONORED TO STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF OUR PAST, GREAT FRATERNITY LEADERS WHO PAVED THE WAY FOR THE MEMBERS OF TODAY. THOSE LEGENDARY MEN CREATED UNIMAGINABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GENERATIONS OF BROTHERS THEY WOULD NEVER KNOW. IT IS NOW OUR MISSION AND OBLIGATION TO CARRY ON THEIR VALUABLE LEGACY TO ENSURE THE FUTURE VIABILITY OF OUR NOBLE CLAN AND THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE." —REUBEN A. SHELTON III, ESQ., GRAND POLEMARCH Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Still in the Civil Rights Struggle
By Earl T. Tildon, Chairman, Publicity & Publications Commission
escape a feeling of disappointment at the meager objectives our organization has thus far achieved. Perhaps, it is dif- ficult for me to see clearly and judge ac- curately. At any rate, I venture to hope the next 25 years will provide us with a clearer understanding of the purposes of Greek letter organizations, and a fuller realization of these purposes.” When I reflect on the words of our beloved Founder Elder Watson Diggs, and as I proudly and reverently wear the coveted medallion bearing his image, I ponder the thought; what have we done to make some things better for Kappa and the world during those 86 years since the brother we call “The Dreamer” shared his candid thoughts. My Kappa journey began 20 years later in 1955 and now I often pause to look through my rear-view Kappa mirror and wonder what Brother Diggs would say today. I decided that I should be as candid as Past Grand Polemarch Diggs was. I pen these thoughts knowing that the greatest barrier to the primary purpose of our fraternity has been and remains civil rights. Just as our Found- ers attended Indiana University at Bloomington, IN when racial animus was prevalent, the persistent racism continues today. Here we stand 110 years since our founding, hoping that Brother Diggs is looking down from Chapter Invisible saying; “I’m still a little disappointed, because I know that most of you have fervently embraced the tenets of Phi Nu Pi, but you have not labored in the Kappa vineyard as hard as you should have. You have not countermanded the pervasive, systemic racism that still im-
pedes the progress of our fraternity and our people. Yet, I have watched from my celestial perch as you have pursued your various fields of human endeavor, and I believe that your work will inevitably change the world.” Today, Grand Polemarch, Reuben A. Shelton III, Esq. has inherited the awe- some task of managing our Noble Klan using our history as his primary guide. He has the benefit of knowing what his predecessors did when faced with the obstacles in during their watch. He can help Brother Diggs understand that we are doing our best to replicate the vision and dreams of our founders. We are traveling on an upward course.
ELDER WATSON DIGGS Founder
OUR LATEST CRISES
W e remember the un- warranted abuse our founders endured, simply to pursue a higher education. We remember that relief from social injustice was nowhere to be found for these ten noble men. We remember their struggles and how their dreams were often nightmares, and how their hopes were often tarnished dur- ing their quest for equal access to justice. In spite of it all, these brothers rev- erently knelt at the Delphic Shrine and learned the true meaning of Phi Nu Pi and vowed to achieve in every field of human endeavor. When Kappa Alpha Psi Frater- nity, Inc. celebrated its 25 th anniver- sary in 1935, Founder Elder Watson Diggs said; “Although proud of hav- ing made some progress, I cannot
COVID-19 Affects Operations
Today, members of our fraternity have lived through a circumstance un- like any other in our history. The world has been affected by a highly contagious virus that has caused Kappa to conduct most of its business virtually. The dis- ease, COVID-19, has caused members to learn and use communications tech- niques that were not historically used in the conduct of Kappa business.
Thanks for the Vaccines
Because of the careful vigilance by Kappa’s leadership, chapters are mov- ing forth with their day-to-day opera- tions. Rank and file members are getting involved in making Kappa function in its quest for new normalcy. Brothers have obtained vaccinations in increasing numbers and following the COVID-19 protocols.
10 | WINTER 2020-SPRING 2021 ♦ THE JOURNAL
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